US moves forward 100% screening requirement

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has set a January 2012 deadline for the mandatory screening of all cargo carried on passenger aircraft bound for the US. According to the British International Freight Association, the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Act of 2007 (9/11 Act) required the TSA to develop a system to screen 100% of all cargo transported on passenger aircraft to provide a level of security commensurate with the level of security for passenger checked baggage no later than August 3, 2010. With the help of airlines, and through the Certified Cargo Screening Programme, TSA successfully completed the mission for cargo loaded on passenger aircraft inside the United States. Because of the complex challenges of screening international inbound cargo, it was decided last year that cargo moving into the United States would be screened at 100% no later than 2013. Recent global events have however demonstrated that there is a compelling need to move forward the 100% goal to January 2012. Carriers will have 30-45 days to comment on the new 100% screening requirement, and TSA will review and evaluate the industry comments prior to finalising and making the requirement effective, according to Bifa. TSA established increased screening percentages for airlines in May 2010. Most carriers established new acceptance procedures for cargo from forwarders and dramatically increased screening percentages as a result. TSA is pursuing this latest proposed change after reviewing the data provided by industry which indicates that air carriers are currently screening a high percentage overall of cargo inbound to the United States. Many air carriers, including a high number of wide-body operators, are already at or close to 100% screening of inbound air cargo.